Te Tika Mataiapo tribute

Te Tika Mataiapo (Dorice Reid), 20 June 1943 – 16 June 2011

Akaeke ia ngaru e….akaeke
Akaeke ia rangi e…. akaeke
Tutuki anga marokura e….tutuki
Tutuki anga mamae ngakau
e….tutuki
Te Tika was our fearless patron and accepted this position in 2002. She assumed her position as patron for all the women of the Cook Islands with shared visions and immaculate judgement.
She grew us, in many ways. In being visible and being recognized as an organization with amazing strength, ancestral wealth and lifelong knowledge to contribute to the growth of this nation.
Under her wise supervision the Council
• Became a proactive place to unite our women’s groups and affiliate members throughout the islands to ensure that the work of our women, and the important roles and features of our maori ways, especially in our homes, is never lost;
• Practiced the importance of reaching out to everyone and to work together to achieve our aims of ensuring that women and their families are safe and secure,
• Was proactive in pushing Government to present our first report on the status of our women to the United Nations
• Pushed to review the National Policy for Women and to spearhead the writing up of the national gender equality and women empowerment policy
She was an asset to our causes here and overseas and we have learnt that the path of growth and prosperity for our families, and people is always challenged by global and local circumstances and events.
And she never tired of promoting these considerations wherever she went.
How will we miss her? The fact that our hearts have been shredded to pieces and the warm place that once held her inside is empty tells me that every Council meeting we meet, we will feel her in our presence and perhaps (who knows) some of her grace and protocol may have rubbed off on us and we will practice her in our work and lives each day of our living life.
Te Tika was always pragmatic. She didn’t like long winding speeches about what she was good at. She liked listening and being in the midst of her women. She loved to join in with our women from the islands and sing and dance. And we danced.
I was fortunate to serve under her for many years as a council member and most recently as the President. I am also fortunate to have loved her as an older sister in our Ngati Te Tika tribe.
No reira , mou mai taku rima e taku tuakana
Naku koe e arataki ki runga i to marae tapunui
I te pae i to taua ui tupuna tei akararangi ia taua.
Ongi atu koe I to taua Tupuna Vaine – Koringa Mata Atua e te kopu tangata te tiaki mai nei ia tatou. Amene.
Vaine Wichman, President, Cook Islands National Council of Women
Following are words of love from our affiliates in the islands and from Rarotonga:
Frances Topa-Fariu, Vice President, CINCW
“E Vaine Toa” kua aite tona mekameka mei to te auoro e te ario e kua tutuki tona rongo ki nga pore e a o te ao nei. Aere ra e maine, ei parataito tatou aravei ei.
Enuamanu Konitara Vainetini, Vice President Piri Touna
Te unga ma te potiki, kia oraana, I te akaari I to matou mamae ngakau no te metua vaine maru o te Kuki Airani tei moe ake nei. E tumu rakau marumaru kua inga, e tiare kua puera I te popongi, kareka kia aiai, kua mae e kua ngaro ua. Te akaaroa.
Teia te irava no tatou katoatoa, Maseli 31:29-30.
Na te Atua tatou katoatoa e akapumaana mai.
President of the Aitutaki Island Vainetini – Matangaro Isamaela
We are deeply saddened at this great loss. May our good memories of such a distinguished woman live on in our hearts and motivate the Vainetini of the Cook Islands. To step forward and make a difference in upholding our uniqueness through our culture, our people and our nation.
Te Tika Mataiapo is a Vainetini ngakau toa. On behalf of the Aitutaki Vainetini we salute and bid you farewell.
Tekura Purea BEM, President, Akatokamanava Konitara Vainetini
Te punavai tei matau ia e matou I te uti. I teia ra kua maro.Te uuoa aere ua nei tei kaki I teia vai. Ko ai ra te toa te ka oronga mai. E apinga aroa koe e Te Tika Mataiapo mei ko mai I te Atua teitei. I teia ra to kite e to marama tei te piriaki o to matou au ngakau. Taku roti pepe koe tei mae e kua puia e te matangi, aere ra e Maine ki te akangaroi anga mutukore.
On behalf of our 27 affiliates and member organizations and the remaining women’s council throughout the islands
E vaine au
E vaine au
Ma toku au manako muteki
E tetai au manako umuumu
Ma te ta tuatau I toku taime
Ki rotopu I toku ngutuare tangata e pera taku tanu kai
E vaine au
Ma toku au moemoea maromaroa
E te roiroi tikai
Te tu’a nei au I toku karape
Na roto I te au’a’i o taku umu
E vaine au
I roto I toku au tuatau mamae
Kua akamaara katoa au I toku manuia
Uuna atu I toku mamae
Ki te tamariki te ora nei

E vaine ra au
Ma te akakoromakianga roa e te ngaueuekore
Te tu tango nei au
I roto I te akatupuanga o te Baselia
E tona au arataki
Ko taku teia I akatupu
by Vaine Rasmussen
Uriia ki te reo maori e Frances Topa

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